The Lion's Den (Paperback)

~ Jon F. Skaehill (Author) "Robert Ignacio Ramirez was asleep in his recliner after a long night of dealing drugs..." (more)
Key Phrases: tactical medics, fatal funnel, raid van, Deputy Chief Taylor, Officer Buckner, Lieutenant Peterson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Whether it's drug raids, high-risk apprehensions or hostage rescue takedowns, Lieutenant William Peterson and his SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) officers have done it all. In the face of any threat, they're ready to risk their lives to serve and protect. When citizens have a problem, they call the police. When the police have a problem, they call in Peterson and his SWAT team.

Peterson loves his assignment as SWAT Commander and is in charge of one of the best tactical units in the country. But, for unknown reasons, his immediate supervisor is determined to see him fail. Peterson soon finds himself under fire from the police department. He is forced to defend his credibility, fight for his career and battle for the every existence of the SWAT team.

Caught in the middle, trying to train, conduct raids and balance their professional and personal lives, assailed by enemies from outside the department as well as from within, the SWAT officers struggle for survival. To make matters worse, Peterson and the SWAT team are about to square off against the most dangerous criminal they've ever faced.

About the Author

J. F. Skaehill has a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and over twelve years of law enforcement experience. He is an eight-year veteran of his police department's SWAT team. He has drawn from his own tactical experiences and imagination in writing The Lion's Den. He is currently assigned as a patrol sergeant and SWAT team leader.

Product Details

• Paperback: 388 pages
• Publisher: Virtualbookworm.com Publishing (January 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589394240
• ISBN-13: 978-1589394247
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,138,492 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Major First Novel, March 17, 2004

By	Higbe (South West Oregon) - See all my reviews

This book is riveting! It was hard to put down. I had to - the book is simply too long for me to read in one night - 385 pages of virtually non-stop action. This book is a fictionalized account of the workings of a suburban police SWAT team. I believe the professional critics would call it a "Police Procedural".

There are a lot of well written works about infantry tactics, mostly designed for circumstances where there are no innocent non-combatants and where everyone not in the same uniform is an enemy in a free fire zone. SWAT teams operate in a very different climate - typically, an urban or suburban setting with innocent and unarmed citizens all around and a few baddies, who must be presumed to be quite willing to kill anyone in their way. Clearly, the tactical problems a Police SWAT team must deal with are far different from traditional infanty combat.

This work fascinates in covering the planning and real craftsmenship a well trained SWAT team uses in pursuit of their goal - neutralization with minimal force of the baddie and most certainly with minimum danger to lives and property. Tactics are carefully developed and practiced to reduce risk to the team and to innocent bystanders to the absolute minimum while leaving the baddy no options for escape or the opportunity to inflict further damage.

The novel deftly develops, setting the stage by giving the reader an insite into the regular training the team goes through, exploring the politics of a suburban police department in a city always looking for ways to cut costs, and with a police department member intent on sabotaging the SWAT team for his personal gain. The last third of the novel plays out a desperate confrontation with an enraged ex-Marine who has nothing to lose and is intent on avenging himself on society with the largest possible bang. And to his credit the author gives us considerable insite into the mind of the villain, and in doing so we gain understanding, sympathy and respect for the baddy as well.

In sum this is a remarkable first novel. The polish and development, while not perfect, leave the reader with much satisfaction, and a very real hope that the police or sheriff in his or her area are as well trained and prepared for emergencies. The novel ends well, with all loose ends neatly tied. This is a most satisfying book.

A last note: our military might do very well to consider engaging Mr. Skaehill as an advisor for developing similar teams for duty in Iraq.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting and Insightful, March 1, 2004

By	"damija" (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews

The Lions Den is a well written novel about the work of a SWAT unit in Brookside, TX, a fictitious suburb of Dallas. The author blends together SWAT raids, the personal lives of the officers, and police department politics to give the reader genuine insight into SWAT work.

The very first page of the book will capture your attention with the adrenalin rush of a SWAT raid by vividly describing the stacks entry into a drug dealers apartment. From that point on you will be hooked and unable to put the book down. Several other SWAT raids, car pursuits, foot pursuits, and training exercises are described in enough detail to make you feel like you are part of the SWAT team. The storyline builds to the last 1/3 of the book which is devoted to a major situation involving a very dangerous criminal.

The characters on the SWAT team are well developed in the book. Brookside SWAT has mature married officers, an engaged officer, a playboy officer or two, a female officer, and some neophyte officers. After several chapters you will feel as though you know them all personally. The book also gives you a good look into the scary minds of several criminals.

True to life, police department politics plays a large part in the story. Every department seems to have a career climber who has little regard for the citizens he serves or the other members of the police department and the Brookside PD is no exception. It is interesting to watch the interaction among the chief, senior staff, and supervisors as the political jockeying develops.

The entire book is presented through the eyes of someone whos been there, done that, and has the SWAT shirts to prove it. According to his bio, the author has a BS degree in Criminal Justice Administration and over 12 years of law enforcement experience. He is currently assigned as a patrol sergeant and SWAT team leader.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down!, February 26, 2004

By	A. Skaehill "William's Mom" (Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I really got into this book, as my husband is a SWAT officer, and could really relate to some of the political and personal issues that Mr. Skaehill points out in his book. But more than that, I felt like I was behind closed doors. I felt like I got a VIP pass to be with the SWAT team to see what they really go through. I really enjoyed it from beginning to end!